SHANGHAI, CHINA, Aug 28, 2026

Duality Biotherapeutics, Inc. (DualityBio) has entered into a global collaboration and license agreement with Genentech, a member of the Roche Group, to develop next-generation antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) using DualityBio’s proprietary DUPAC novel-payload platform. The agreement combines DualityBio’s ADC payload technologies and early global clinical development capabilities with Genentech’s oncology expertise and worldwide development and commercialization capabilities. Under the collaboration, DualityBio will receive a US$45 million upfront payment and is eligible for more than US$1 billion in potential development, regulatory and commercial milestone payments, in addition to tiered royalties on annual net sales of approved products.

DUPAC Targets Next-Generation ADC Payloads

DUPAC (DualityBio Unique Payload Antibody Conjugate) is one of DualityBio’s four proprietary ADC technology platforms and focuses on payloads with novel mechanisms of action. The platform includes multiple payloads paired with optimized linker technologies designed to provide systemic stability and tumor-specific release. According to DualityBio, the payloads are engineered around characteristics including high potency, broad-spectrum antitumor activity, rapid systemic clearance and a bystander effect intended to support activity in heterogeneous solid tumors. The platform includes payloads such as DUP5, DUP9 and DUP10, each designed to act through a distinct antitumor mechanism. Preclinical findings for DUP5- and DUP9-based ADCs have been presented at several oncology research conferences, with company-reported data indicating activity in tumor models that may be relatively less sensitive to topoisomerase inhibitor-based payloads.

Collaboration Addresses ADC Resistance Challenges

The collaboration comes as topoisomerase inhibitor-based ADCs continue to expand across major solid tumor indications and move into earlier lines of cancer treatment. As these therapies become more widely used, tumors that develop resistance or show limited response to this payload class represent an increasing therapeutic challenge. DualityBio said its DUPAC platform was developed to investigate alternative payload mechanisms that could potentially address tumors resistant or refractory to currently established ADC payload classes. Under the agreement, DualityBio will generate and develop ADC candidates against Genentech-defined oncology targets using payloads from the DUPAC platform. DualityBio will lead discovery activities and early global clinical development, while Genentech will receive an exclusive worldwide license to the collaboration ADCs and assume sole responsibility for further clinical development and commercialization following Phase 1a development.

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Genentech to Advance Global ADC Development

The agreement creates a development model that combines the companies’ complementary capabilities. DualityBio brings proprietary ADC payload and linker technologies, along with experience in early-stage global clinical development, while Genentech contributes extensive oncology development expertise and global commercialization infrastructure. The financial terms include a US$45 million upfront payment, with DualityBio eligible for more than US$1 billion in aggregate milestone payments across the collaboration programs, covering development, regulatory and commercial achievements. The company will also receive tiered royalties on annual net sales of approved products. DualityBio CEO and founder Dr. John Zhu said the collaboration is designed to combine the company’s payload innovation with Genentech’s oncology expertise and global development reach to potentially advance differentiated ADC medicines for patients whose tumors are resistant to established payload classes. For Genentech and Roche, the partnership expands access to an emerging portfolio of novel-payload ADC technologies as targeted cancer therapies continue to evolve. Roche Corporate Business Development head Boris L. Zaïtra highlighted the potential of targeted medicines such as ADCs to address areas of significant unmet need in oncology. The collaboration also reflects the broader pharmaceutical industry focus on developing next-generation ADCs, including molecules designed with alternative payload mechanisms, improved tumor selectivity and differentiated approaches to overcoming treatment resistance. DualityBio currently operates as a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on next-generation ADCs for cancer and autoimmune diseases. The company has developed four proprietary ADC technology platforms and is conducting multiple global, multicenter clinical trials across nearly 20 countries. Its pipeline includes novel-payload ADCs, bispecific ADCs and autoimmune ADC programs. The collaboration with Genentech further strengthens DualityBio’s position in the global ADC development landscape while providing a pathway for selected DUPAC-based candidates to potentially advance through later-stage development and worldwide commercialization.

Source: DualityBio, Genentech press release